Thai Ambassador in Jakarta to be summoned by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs on Orangutan Issue

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Indonesia Still Wants

Orangutans Repatriated!

 

The Indonesian Minister of Forestry has made it clear again today

that the Indonesian government insist on a speedy repatriation of more than one

hundred illegally obtained orangutans currently held in Thailand. Yesterday,

Friday the 13th of August, 36 of the missing 41 orangutans (that had

supposedly died and been cremated) were found very much alive, although many are

thought to be in bad health due to inadequate, cramped living conditions. According

to a high-ranking Department of National Parks official, the animals will be

moved out of Safariworld within a few days and be placed in the care of wildlife

breeding centres of the Department of National Parks for the duration of the

ongoing legal process. The Indonesian CITES chief Mr. Widodo has again, on

behalf of the Indonesian Minister of Forestry, said that it is in the best

interests of the orangutans for them to be relocated to the Indonesian wildlife

rescue centres that are adequately equipped to care for the apes and have the

necessary expertise. Space for a total of 120 orangutans is already available

at two rescue centres in Indonesia.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister will summon the Thai ambassador to Indonesia on

Monday to again stress the serious nature of this matter and press for a swift

resolution. In the meantime, the Thai Minister for Natural Resources and

Environment, Khun Suvit Khunkitty, who oversees the Department of National Parks,

yesterday personally ordered the removal of the orangutans from Safariworld as

a matter of urgency.